Burial-case.



No. 790,981. PATENTED MAY 30, 1905.

L. V. RAT

- BURIAL APPLICATION FILE HBUN.

CASE.

D JULY 23, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NITED STATES Patented May 30, 1905.

LEVIS V. RATHBUN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

BURIAL-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '390,981, dated May 30, 1905.

Application filed July 23,1904. erial No. 217,821.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS V. RATHBUN, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Burial-Cases, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to the matter of burials; and it has for its essential object the producing of a burial-case or receptacle for a casket or a coffin that may be quickly and conveniently hermetically sealed after receiving the coffin or casket containing the remains.

It is frequently wished by friendsand relatives of the deceased to inclose the remains or the casket or coffin containing them in an air and water tight receptacle with an idea oftheir continuance and preservation, and to produce means at comparatively low expense and of easy operation to effect this desired result is the main aim of the invention herein shown and described.

The burial-case herein set forth is in two partsnamely, the body of the device and the lid or cover; and another object of my invention is to so construct the parts that the case as a whole may be readily prepared by upholstering to directly receive the remains without the employment primarily of a cofin or casket.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the employment of a firm plate of glass cemented in the lid or some part of the body of the case, and so constituting a nonremovable and permanent part of the wall of the case.

In producing this invention I have designed 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 5. Fig. i is a transverse section on the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 5 and the broken dotted line 4 4: in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan of the case shown as resting in place at the bottom of the grave, a part being broken away. Fig. 6 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the dotted line 6 6 in Fig. 1, showing in plan the interior at the bottom. Fig. 7 is a side view of a guide-bar for the lid or cover. Fig. 7% shows a threaded plate in plan. Fig. 8 is a plan of the case, showing the lid slightly modified for holding a glass plate. Fig. 9 is an end View, partly broken away and in vertical transverse section, as on the dotted line 9 9 in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section of parts, more fully showing the form of and the application of a guide-bar. Fig. 11 is a plan of a part of the joint-surface of the body, showing a rest for the end of the guide-bar. Fig. 12 is a vertical cross-section of a part of the body, showing a pipe and faucet for use in exhausting the air or for introducing vapors or other fluids into the case. Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, are drawn to scales larger than that of Figs. 1 to 6.

Referring to the parts shown, A is the main part or body of the burial-case, and B the lid or cover. The body A is preferably made flaring, as shown, and the cover arched for the purpose of giving it strength and rendering the whole attractive in appearance. The upper edge of the body A is expanded and formed with a continuous channel or groove (0, Figs. 3 and 4, all around, the opposing edge of the cover B having a continuous tongue 6 to occupy the channel a when the cover is put .in place to close the part A. For the purpose of convenience in handling the parts of the burial-case 1 place threaded metal plates 0, Figs. 3 and 4:, horizontally in the plastic cement when molding the cover B and form openings (Z (see also Fig. 5) in the cement down through which to pass the threaded ends of eyebolts of common kind (not shown) to engage with the plates 0. By means of the eyebolts and ropes or cords the cover may be readily handled and lowered into the graveopening 0. In molding the body or part A I also insert in the plastic cement similar threaded plates 6, Fig. 4:, one at each corner, and form holes f, leading down to them, with which to employ eyebolts, this arrangement being convenient when lowering the body A into the grave-opening (1, Fig. 5. It will be observed, relating to this matter, that none of the small openings (Z f in either part of the case extend through the cement walls, and consequently no air-passages to the interior of the burial-case are formed by them.

In preparing for a burial at any time'a fabric or apron commonly used at burials is first placed pendent in the grave-opening, covering the four walls thereof, the part A of the burial-case being then lowered to place by means of eyebolts and other tackling, as stated. The eyebolts being withdrawn and the holes f occupied by them filled with plastic cement, the burial-case is ready to receive the casket or coflin containing the remains, the apron preventing masses of earth or other extraneous matter from falling into the part A or upon the grooved sealing-surface at its upper edge. Before the cover B is put to place upon the part A the upper surface of the latter is covered all round with cement in a semifluid state, partly filling the' channel a. This coating of cement for sealing the parts is preferably of the same material of which the burial-case is made, though in a state to flow more readily, and when the cover B is let down to place on the body A the tongue 6 will become buried in the softcement, which will completely fill and occupy all the narrow space g, Fig. 10, between the parts. This soft cement subsequently solidifying hermetically seals the joint throughout its whole extent, rendering the whole burial-case a single and continuous hollow homogeneous body, save as to the embedded metal plates;

The construction of the cover B ,involves an angular outer groove 7t continuous around the periphery of the cover to be filled with cement after the cover is firm in place and cemented to the body A, as stated. The cement placed in the groove 71 is the same as the other sealing-cement save that it is less fluid and stiffer, and it hardens with the other cement and becomes an integral part of the single whole body.

For the purpose of guiding the cover B accurately to place on the body part A when the cover is lowered thereon I employ a series of guide-bars D, Figs. 5, 7, 9, and 10, preferably of metal. The lower ends of these bars are reduced and inserted in rests or cavities Figs. 10 and 11, formed in the upper face of the part A, the barsinclining with their upper ends against the walls or sides of the grave-opening C at the top, as appears in Fig. 5. I employ usually two bars at either side of the burial-case and one at each end, as shown, the rests 2' being so placed relative with the cover that the latter when coming to rest upon the body shall be near to or in contact with all the guide-bars, and thus exactly guided to place. In forming the rests t for the guide-bars in the body A, I usually prefer to form projecting parts or ribs in, Figs. 10 and 11, outside of the cavities t', which ribs constitute convenient backings for the bars and hold them against being pressed outward by the cover B as it descends to its place on the part A.

It may sometimes be desirable to dispense with the coffin or casket altogether and place the remains directly in the burial-case itself. To provide for this, the bu rial-case is so formed that it may be conveniently upholstered within. I form the cover with a light inwardlyprojecting horizontal rib or ledge Z, Figs. 3 and 4, extending completely around near and parallel with its edge, and spring in transverse and longitudinal slats or strips of wood m n, with their several ends abutting firmly against said rib Z, as shown. To these various wooden slats the upholstering material may be readily secured with ordinary tacks ,or otherwise. I

The body part A is likewise formed with a rib 0 near to and parallel with its upper edge and a rib p in the form of a rectangle at the inner bottom, Fig. 6, for holding vertical side slats 1, Figs. 3, 4:, and 6, and end slats s, to which to secure the upholstery. I also further usually form the cover B with a depressed field or panel t, Figs. 3 and 5, in which to fill with plastic cement u. for the purpose of impressing therein letters or characters giving name, date, or other inscription wished, the floor of the body part A being also formed with a similar. panel 4;, Fig. 6, for receiving plastic cement to for the same purpose.

It is sometimes-desirable to form the burial case with an opening a", Fig. 9, through the cover near the head for receiving a stiff plate of glass y, Figs. 8 and 9. This opening is surrounded by a raised molding z, and a suitable seat or rest is formed for the glass, so the latter may be readily cemented permanently into place. It is also desirable in some cases to exhaust the air from the burial-case after it has been sealed and become rigid as a single piece or body for the purpose of injecting gases, vapors, or other fluids for experimental purposes or otherwise. To provide for this,

I inserta simple slender pipe at, Fig. 12,

through a wall of the burial-case at some convenient point, providing the same with an ordinary air-cock Z), adapted to be operated with a wrench. A projecting threaded nipple c, which may beremovable, admits of a hose or pipe being attached for the purpose of first pumping or drawing out the air and then admitting the gases or fluids, as desired. The wall of the case is formed with an external cavity d, in which to receive and cover the aircock and the nipple 0, as shown, which cavity is finally filled and closed up after the operation of exhausting and filling is finished and the cock finally closed. The filling of the cavity d with fresh cement even with the outer surface of the body A will completely cover and hide all parts of the air-conductor, the interior of the nipple or of the socket in the cock receiving it, as the case may be, being primarily filled with the cement.

In molding the bodyA of the burial-case I usually prefer to form thereon strengthening corner-pieces e, Figs. 1 to 4, which are made to project slightly below the body to serve as short feet for the body to rest upon. I also form similar intermediate feet f at the sides of the body, constituting six bearing-points or supports for the burial-case when at the bottom of the grave.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A burial-case, the same being a hollow inclosing body consisting of parts made of plastic material hardened into a single continuous piece or body, the parts having tongueand-groove connection and the cover formed with an angular outer groove around its periphery outside said tongue-and-groove connection.

2. A burial-case consisting of a main part or body and a cover for the same, the body be ing formed with means for holding the lower ends of guide-bars for guiding the cover into place.

3. A burial-case consisting of a hollow main part or body, and a hollow cover therefor, said body and cover being formed with vertical internally-projecting ribs, and a series of vertically-disposed wooden slats sprung into place with their ends abutting and held by the ribs.

4. A burial-case consisting of a main part or hollow body and a cover therefor, the parts being hermetically sealed to form a single inclosure, said main part being formed with grooves forming rests for guide-bars.

5. In a burial-case, a body of cement formed with an external chamber, and a short pipe and cook located therein, and a covering of cement over said pipe and cook filling said chamber flush and making the outer surface continuous and unbroken, whereby the metal parts are entirely embedded and hidden from view.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 21st day of July, 1904, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEWVIS V. RATHBUN.

Witnesses:

ENos B. WHITMORE, MINNIE SMITH. 

